🌊 Kerala floods spark political drama in Kuttanad

A political controversy flared up in Kuttanad over the region's readiness to manage massive river runoff during the floods. Ministers visited the flood-ravaged area, with the Thottappally spillway becoming a major point of contention. Critics alleged delays in clearing sandbars and debris, despite 39 of 40 shutters remaining open as of Saturday. Officials countered that dredging work has been ongoing since 2018, while some pointed to highway structures as new bottlenecks. Preliminary assessments show the flood damage surpassed ₹55.64 crore across the district. 🌊

📡 AP govt backs telcos for full mobile coverage

The Andhra Pradesh government is offering major support to telecom service providers for tower installation. This initiative is being implemented through the Information Technology, Electronics and Communications Department across the state. The support includes free land, subsidized power, and viability gap aid, effective from August 08, 2026. This aims to solve connectivity issues in remote villages where commercial viability is low. The assistance will be reviewed every three years to ensure continued network expansion. 📡

😟 Meta restricts post on Kashmir pellet victim

Meta has restricted a social media post concerning Insha Mushtaq, a pellet victim in Kashmir. The restriction specifically targeted the content shared regarding Mushtaq's situation in India. The post was flagged by the platform due to its sensitive nature surrounding the incident. This action by Meta highlights ongoing content moderation challenges in conflict zones. Further actions regarding the visibility of the post remain unclear for now. 😟

😠 Cleric booked for remarks on Kanwariyas in UP

A case has been registered against Muslim cleric Sajid Rashidi in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. Rashidi, president of the All India Imam Association, made derogatory remarks about kanwariyas in an interview. The allegations stem from his questioning of devotees' conduct during the Kanwar Yatra, which runs until August 11. Narendra Panwar of Hindu Sangharsh Samiti filed the complaint regarding these statements. The police proceeded to file the FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions. 😠

💧 Minister pushes rural jobs under VB-G RAM G scheme

Madhu Bangarappa, the Minister in-charge of Shivamogga, chaired a meeting on Saturday to review the drought situation in the region. He instructed officers to ensure rural people get work using the VB-G RAM G scheme. Since July 1, the scheme has been active, and 82 landslip prevention works have been completed across the district. Officers reported that the Tunga reservoir is full, but Bhadra reservoir is only 50% full. The minister also heard concerns about compensation for families who lost their homes in heavy rains. 💧

✅ UPI stays free for users; merchants might pay small fee

The government has confirmed that UPI payments will remain free for consumers across the board. A nominal Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) might be introduced, but only for select merchant transactions exceeding a certain threshold. This clarification relates to the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which is under consideration. The UPI and Services Steering Committee, led by NPCI, will decide on any MDR after the Bill passes Parliament. This move aims to fund cybersecurity and infrastructure upgrades for digital payments. 📱

📺 OLED vs QLED vs Mini-LED: Pick Your Perfect TV 📺

Choosing a new TV requires deciding between OLED, QLED, and Mini-LED technologies for a better viewing experience. QLED offers value and brightness, while Mini-LED balances contrast and brightness well. OLED provides unmatched cinematic picture quality due to its self-emissive pixels. These differences depend on viewing habits, room setup, and budget constraints. Buyers can compare options available during the Flipkart Freedom Sale 2026.

🔮 X-Men casting rumors heating up before D23

New cinematic X-Men additions have fans eagerly awaiting a full cast reveal from Marvel. The Hollywood Reporter reported strong interest for Cooper Hoffman as Cyclops, while Asa Germann also tested for the role. Christopher Abbott and Tom Pelphrey tested for Charles Xavier, and Adam Driver might play Sebastian Shaw. More definitive casting news is expected at the D23 event, which runs from August to August 16. Fans will also hopefully get a look at future X-Men suits during the event. 🎬

⛏️ Massive tungsten find in Nevada blocked by NASA

A potentially huge tungsten resource of about 1.78 million tonnes was found in the Nevada desert by 3 Proton Lithium. This discovery is located near Ely in the Great Basin Desert, Nevada. The company estimates the tungsten's value at around $152 billion based on current prices. However, NASA has restricted mining exploration on a part of the site to protect satellite calibration activities. 3 Proton Lithium is now lobbying Congress to reverse the federal land withdrawal. ⛏️

🌾 Govt looking at farmer relief after drought hits Gadag

The government is considering relief for farmers who couldn't sow or paid insurance premiums, according to Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddy. This was discussed after inspecting Shirahatti and Laxmeshwar taluks in Gadag district on Saturday. Nearly 50% of crops were damaged in Gadag district, and about 33,000 farmers paid crop insurance premiums. Officials were directed to prepare verifiable reports as a decision on drought declaration needs 15 more days. MLA Chandru Lamani urged that eligible farmers get timely compensation. 🌾

🌿 Nepal's Gandaki legalizes medical cannabis 🌿

Gandaki has become the first province in Nepal to legally permit regulated cultivation and medical use of cannabis. This policy change affects the region bordering India’s Bihar state. The legislation allows licensed businesses and local farmers to grow cannabis under state oversight starting August 08, 2026. The move aims to boost rural employment and create high-value industrial markets from the crop. However, this provincial law faces friction with Nepal's existing national narcotics laws.